Taughannock Falls State Park's namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions of the Northeast. Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls and from below at the end of the gorge trail. Campsites and cabins overlook Cayuga Lake, with marina, boat launch and beach nearby. A multi-use trail--hiking, cross-country skiing--winds past sledding slopes and natural skating ponds. The park offers organized activities including tours through the Taughannock Gorge and summer concerts along the lakefront.

Boat Launch Site not suitable for any type of sailboat.

For information on Transient and Seasonal Boat Slips please call the park office.

*If planning a visit, please call the park to confirm conditions and status of the trails.

Shelters/Pavilions: Available for reservations from mid-April through mid-October

Applications for reservations will be taken from 8:00 to 8:30 on the day reservations open. If more than one is turned in, a random lottery will take place at 8:30. If no one has reserved by 8:30, the pavilions will be first come, first serve. Learn more about the reservation procedure, here.

Boating rentals & lessons available through Myers Park. For more information: www.paddle-n-more.com, 607-349-4767.

Bow hunting for deer is permitted in season.

Fees & Rates

Most New York State Parks charge a vehicle use fee to enter the facility. Fees vary by location and season. A list of entry fees and other park use fees is available below. For fees not listed or to verify information, please contact the park directly.

Your key to all season enjoyment of state parks is our season's pass. For $65, the Empire Passport provides you unlimited day use vehicle entry into most of our parks. Apply on-line or call your favorite park for more information.

Lakeside - enclosed: $175Central - open on two sides: $150Creekside North - $50

Misc.

Walk-in fee for camping/cabins/transient slip, first night only: $2.75Reservation fee for camping/cabins/transient slip, first night only: $9Out of state resident fee for camping/transient slip, per night: $5Out of state resident fee for cabins, per night: $6.25Out of state resident fee for cabins, per week: $25

Taughannock Falls is the tallest free-falling waterfall east of the Mississippi. With a drop of 215 feet (66 meters), it's 33 feet higher than Niagara Falls, but with a much smaller volume of water.

Don't miss the view of Taughannock Falls from the Falls Overlook – the gorge creates a natural amphitheater that holds in the dense spray that rises from the bottom of the falls and shrouds the lower part of the cataract in mist—it will inspire a hike down the Gorge Trail and provide the setting for the perfect photo of the falls.

If you want to experience the shore of Cayuga Lake without being surrounded by bathing suits, head to the quieter shore line at our North Point area. There is a lovely view of the lake from there.

In the spring, check out the wildflowers that bloom along the Gorge Trail. Flowers thrive there because deer rarely wander into the gorge.

The hemlock forests surrounding the Taughannock ravine are mixed with other hardwood trees, including sugar maple, white oak, and striped maple. It's also home to many species of woodland birds.

The shoreline at Taughannock Falls State Park drops off sharply, making this area a great congregating space for many different species of Lake Cayuga fish. Lake trout, yellow perch, and landlocked Atlantic salmon are all common species.

Clean and remove all visible plants, animals, fish and mud from boat, trailer and other equipment and dispose of it in a suitable trash container or on dry land.

Drain water from bilge, live wells, ballast tanks, and any other locations with water before leaving the launch. Disinfect when possible.

Dry your boat, trailer and all equipment completely. At least 5 days of drying time is recommended. Drying times may vary depending on weather and material.

Ask a Naturalist!

Q: Where have all the rocks gone that were once in the gorge?

A: They have become Taughannock Point, the eastern part of the park where the park office, swimming area, concession stand and playground is. As the gorge erodes the park gets bigger!

Q: Why does the streambed look remind me of the surface of the moon?

A: The streambed at Taughannock is made up of limestone. The limestone is susceptible to chemical erosion so if the water becomes acidic (like when rain water puddles dry) the acid reacts with the stone and creates solution pits and ripples in the rock.

Q: After the water from Taughannock creek enters Cayuga Lake where does it go?

A: The water in the lake flows north into the Seneca River, then the Oswego River, then the eastern end of Lake Ontario, into the St. Lawrence River and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Q: Are there any invasive species in Taughannock Falls?

A: Unfortunately, yes. Some of the hemlock forest in the park has been infested with Hemlock Wooley Adelgid, an invasive insect which is deadly to hemlock trees. Parks' specialists are keeping a close eye on our forests to limit the spread of this exotic species.

DID YOU KNOW?

Geography:

At 38.2 miles long, Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes.

Cayuga Lake goes down to about 435 feet at its deepest point. It’s one of the deepest lakes in North America and its bottom is 35 feet below sea level.

The arresting landscape of lakes, hills, gorges and waterfalls in Taughannock Falls State Park and throughout the Finger Lakes region was formed by Devonian Era rocks, which accumulated in a warm shallow sea over 360 million years ago, as well as by the action of massive ice sheets that shaped the rocks over the last 2 million years. The Finger Lakes themselves, long, narrow parallel bodies of water, were gouged out by the movement of glaciers in the Ice Age, between 2 million and ten thousand years ago. The flowing water continues to shape and cut the gorges that dominate this region.

History:

In 1879, a 10-foot tall, petrified “man” was unearthed at the former Taughannock House Hotel site. To learn more about “Taughannock Man” listen to stop 11 on the Taughannock cell phone tour, 607-216-6062.

In the 19th century scholar William H. Bogart determined Taughannock, or Taghanic, to mean “the great fall in the woods” in a combination of Algonquin and Iroquois languages. However, D.H. Hamilton, another scholar of the same era, contended that word was of Delaware origin. In Hamilton’s version, Taughannock was the title of a young Delaware chief who defied the more-powerful Iroquois and was defeated at the falls.

The Finger Lakes Environmental Education Department offers scheduled gorge tours and educational programs at Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman, Taughannock Falls and Watkins Glen State Parks. All park programs are free and open to the public, no registration required, although a parking fee may be charged.

If you have a group (10 or more) that is interested in scheduling its own gorge tour or educational program at one of the above parks or at another Finger Lakes State Park please contact the office at (607) 387-7041 x 131 or email Josh.Teeter@parks.ny.gov

The Finger Lakes Story

Sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral land dominate the landscape of the Finger Lakes Region. Over thousands of years, gigantic glaciers and coursing streams have carved this landscape. The most recent glacier moved through shallow river valleys leaving in its place deep, steep-sided troughs. When the glaciers receded north 10,000 years ago, water filled these new troughs, creating the 11 Finger Lakes. Since that time water has flowed down glacially steepened hillsides carrying debris that cut away at soft sedimentary rock to form our beautiful and unique gorges.

Gorge Tours provide information and insights about individual park history, ecology, gorge formation and geology. Tours last approximately one and one half hours.

The Taughannock Falls Gorge Tour - Experience a spectacular stone amphitheater and 215-foot vertical waterfall at the end of the wide and wooded ¾-mile gorge trail. The trail is relatively flat making it a very accessible and beautiful hike for all ages.

A valid New York State hunting license with the proper hunting stamps will serve as the regional hunting permit. Except where otherwise stated, this is the only permit necessary.

Safety zones and restricted areas are posted to ensure the safety of other park patrons and regional personnel. Signs will be posted at all parks during hunting season to notify patrons of this activity. Handguns will not be permitted in any of the parks. No trapping is permitted.

The hike will begin by heading down to Taughannock Falls for a group picture. We will then return on the gorge trail (1 ½ miles) and head up the North Rim Trail to the Overlook (2 ½ miles). From the Overlook we will head over to the Multi-Use trail, making a brief stop at the warming hut and then return to beginning of the Gorge trail on the North Rim Trail (5miles).